Floor surfacing machine



Nov. 24, 1959 Filed Feb. 5, [1958 F. P. VINELLA FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IOI IOO

FIG; 6

INVENTOR. FRANK P. VINELLA ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1959 F. P. VINELLA2,913,855

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5. 195a v s Sheets-Sheet 2 N N g 3 oN u. P *3 r (9 q- (0 a N Ir m 7 W, 1mm

INVENTOR. FRANK P. VINELLA ATTORNEY Nov. 24, 1959 F. P. VINELLA2,913,855

FLOOR SURFACING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet :s

INVENTOR. FRANK P. VINELLA ym/47gb ATTORNEY United StatesPatertt O2,913,855- I I FLOOR SURFACING FrankP. Vinel la; Minneapolis, Minn.ApplicationFebruary 5, 1958, Serial No. 713,368, 8 Claims. c1. 51-477invention relates to an improvementin amachine for surfacing floorsemployinggrinding members and more particularly to a surfacing machinehaving means for indicating when-the machine is not level due to wear ofthe grinding members, and means for adjustment of the attitude of themachine to compensate for grinder wear, and restoring themachine to aworking level relative to the grinding members. i

It is an object of my invention to provide a device which allows longerlife to the grindingmembers' of a flonr suffacing' machine and producemore Continuous, correct, and effective grinding It is: also. an object'of my, invention to provide a device whichaccurately indicates byvisual means when'the' grinding' mernbers of the machine are worn apredetermined amount suflicient to warrant a re-levelling of themachine.' It is a further object to provide means which allow easy,positive and fine levelling adjustment of the attitude of the machine. II shall not here attempt to set forth and indicate all the variousobjects and advantages incident to my inventioh, but other objects andadvantages will be referred to n or else will become apparent from thatwhich follows.

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The wheels 22 are mounted on the axle 23 supported in the frame portion24 depending from the underside of the wheel carriage arm 17. The handlecontrol 25 is composed of the two arms 26 and 27 secured at the lowerends to the frame 10 by means of the bolts-28 and also includes thecross arm 29 which is gripped by the operator. Mounted on the upper endsof the arms 26v and' 27 is' the switch control box 30 into which isplugged an electric power line. The switch control box 30 is operated bythe small handle 31 for operation of the motor of the machine. I I I IThe numeral 32 designates a support bar which is secured to the handlevcomponent arms: 26 and 27 and on which the cylinder 33 is mounted.Mounted in the cylinder 33' is the piston 34 to which the lower end ofthe rod 35 is rotatably connected. The rod 35 is threadedly engagedthrough the plug 36 whichcloses ofi the top ofj the cylinder 33. Securedto the top end of the rod735 is the hand wheel 37. Mounted on the lowerend of the cylinder 33 is the plug 38 and extending therethrough is theorifice 39. Positive sealing contact of. the

I The invention will. appear more clearly. from the follbwingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,rshowing by way of example a preferred embodiment of theinventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like partsthroughouh I IIIn the drawings forming partof this application: II Fig. l is alongitudinal elevational view of a floor surfacing machine showing myinvention which is partly in section. i I I N I I Fig. 2 is a top plan.view of the machine shown in Fig. l. I II I. Fig. 3 is a section throughthe indicator and control mechanism with only a portion of the machinebeing shown. I V I II II I Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of thewheel carriage takenon the line 44 of Fig. l. I I I I Fig. 5 is afragmentary elevational view of another modification of the visualwarning system. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the visual warning system ofFig. 5. II II I Referring to the drawingsin detail, my floor surfacingmachine A includes a main frame 10 on which is mounted the motor support11. Mounted on the support 11 is the motor housing 12 which covers amotor (not shown). Secured to the frame 10 is the splash guard 13 whichsubstantially covers twin grinding units, only one of the grinding units14 being shown. The numeral 15 indicates the grinding stones mounted oneach of the units 14, which are driven by means of helical drive (notshown) through. a flexible coupling 16.

I further provide the flat arm or wheel carriage which is pivotallymounted on the rear of the frame 10 by means of the pin 18. Extendingfrom the rear of. the

flat arm 17 1s I the extension, 19 formed with the open slot 20 in whichis mounted the lower end of the bolt 21.

piston 34 with the inner wall of the cylinder 33 is made by means of theO-ring 40 mounted inthe annular recess 41 formed in the piston. Inaddition, the plug 38 is sealed in the cylinder 33 by means of theO-ring42 placed in the annular recess 43 formed in the plug 38 The plugs36- and 38 are maintained in position in the cylinder 33 by means of thecircular spring clips 44 and 45 respectively. Maintained in the chamberformed between the piston 34 and the plug 38 is the fluid 45'.

The orifice 39 is connected with the line 46 which leads to and isconnected with the cap 47 mounted on thestationary head 48. The plug orstationary head 48 is maintained in the cylinder 49 by means of thespring rings 50, and a seal is made between the head 48 and the innerwall of the cylinder 49 by means of the O-ring 51 mounted in the annularrecess 52. Mounted in the stationary head 48 is the short plug 53 hayinga passage. way 54 connecting with the hollow cap 47. Sealing'contactbetween the plug 53 and the head 48 is made by the O-ring 53. Thepassageway 54 connects with the recess 55 formed. in the upper end ofthe bolt 21, and leading from the recess 55 to the inside of thecylinder 49 at. a point above the ram 56 is the orifice 57. I I

The ram 56 is slidably mounted on the bolt 21, and sealing contact withthe bolt is made by the O-r'ing's 58 and 59. Sealing contact is madebetween the outer surface of the ram 56 and the inner surface of thecylinder 49 by means of the O-rings 60 and 61. The lower end 62 of theram 56 is formed somewhat conical, and the same is positioned in asimilar conical seat 63 formed in the raised frame portion 64, part ofthe frame 10. Ex tending through the frame 10 and the raised portion 64is the hole 65 through which the bolt 21 extends. The bolt 21 hasmounted on the lower end thereof the conical washer 66 allowing movingcontact with the under" side of the extension portion 19 of the arm 17.

Further provided are the coil springs 17' and 17" positioned in recesses18' and 18" respectively which. are formed in the upper surface of thearm 17. The upper ends of the springs 17' and 17" bear against theunderside of the frame 10 and tend to urge the arm 17 in a downwarddirection against the restraining action of the bolt 21 connection.

, Secured to the frame 10 adjacent the raised portion 64 is thecylindrical mount 68, and mounted on the top of the mount 68 is thecylindrical dome 69 which forms the chamber 69'. The lower end of thedome 69 is mounted in a recess formed on the top of the mount 68 andsealing engagement is made by means of the O-ring 7,0. Access to theinterior of the dome 69 is made through an opening in the top thereofclosed off by means of the screw-plug 71. The mount 68 has formedtherein the vertical restricted orifice 72 which leads from the chamber69 to the passageway 73 which in turn connects with the conduit 74. Thechamber 69' is directly over the center line of the Wheels, thereforeunless the hydraulic unit setting is changed, the level in chamber 69will remain constant. The conduit 74 connects with the cylindrical mount75 which has formed therein the restricted orifice 76 connecting withthe vertical passageway 76 terminating in the reservoir 77 formed in theupper end of the mount 75. The orifice 76' is restricted to preventsurging of the liquid electrical conductor therein such as mercury.Formed integral with the mount 75 is a primary reservoir 77 forretaining a body of electricalconductor fluid such as mercury asindicated by the reference character X. A secondary reservoir 75surround the primary reservoir 77. Formed within the mount 75 is avertically disposed surge channel 78 which is connected with thesecondary reservoir 75 at its upper end and with the conduit 75 at itslower end.

A needle valve 81 has screw threaded engagement with the mount 75 and isin axial alignment with the conduit 74. This needle valve is constructedand arranged to adjustably limit and control the electrical conductorfluid X. It will be seen that by restricting the flow of said conductorfluid at the needle valve 81', any surging thereof will be by-passedthrough the surge channel 78 into the secondary reservoir 75 to thusmaintain a constant level of the fluid X when the machine is in motion.

Mounted in a recess formed on the upper end of the mount 75 is thecylindrical member 78, and sealing engagement therebetween is made by agasket 79. Porcelain insulators 80 are secured within the cylinder 78and spaced from the reservoir 77. Mounted in the insulators 80 are thetwo spaced electrical contacts 81 which are connected to the wires 82and 83, the wire 82 passing through the conduit 84 and connected to thebar 85 and thence to the end of the bulb 86. The cap 86' mounts thewires 82 and 83 and closes off the cylinder 78. The wire 83 passesthrough box 87 mounting the bulb 86 and down to the outlet box 88. Thewire 89 is connected to the bar 90 which is connected to the side of thebulb socket. The wire 89 passes through the conduit 91 to the outlet box88 which is connected to a source of electrical power.

I further provide the small conduit 92 connecting the chamber 69' to thechamber 77' which equalizes entrapped air, particularly where themachine is tilted for the change of grinding stones 15. Hydraulic liquid45 is contained in the chamber in the cylinder 33 and throughout theline or conduit 46 and thence into the chamber formed between the top ofthe ram 56 and the head 48.

A liquid electrical conductor such as mercury is maintained in thechamber 69, the conduit 74 and the reservoir 77. The level of mercurymaintained in the reservoir 77 is such that the lower ends of thecontacts 81 do not touch the same when the frame is parallel with thefloor B on which the machine A is resting. Such position is the correctone for the grinding stones 14 for grinding, and with the mercury inreservoir 77 is out of contact with the contacts 81 the warning light 86is off inasmuch as no circuit is completed. As the stones 14 wear, thefront of the machine A is thereby lowered in proportion to stone wear,the lowering being done on the pivot point of the wheels 22. As a resultof the above and with a predetermined amount of wear on the stones, themercury in the reservoir 77 rises and touches the electrodes 81 therebyclosing the contacts and lighting the lamp 86 indicating that resettingof the stones 14 is necessary. It will be noted that when the light 86is caused to go on, the front of the machine is low but that the rear ofthe machine is substantially the same.

' To re-level the stones, the handwheel 37 is turned causing the piston34 to move downwardly thereby forcing liquid through the line 46, thepassageway 54, and into the space in the cylinder 49 between the top ofthe ram 56 and the underside'of the stationary head 48 thereby causingthe bolt 21 to be moved upwardly and draw the arm 17 upwardly againstthe action of the springs 17' and 17" somewhat into the position ofFigure 3 from the position shown in Figure 1. The movement of the bolt21 upwardly is effected due to the fact that the head 48 is a point ofresistance and the seat 63 is a second point of resistance and as theliquid 45' is forced into the cylinder, the cylinder is moved upwardlyon the ram 56 and inasmuch as the bolt is connected to the cylinder 56through the head 48, the bolt is moved upwardly thereby drawing the arm17 and wheels 22 upwardly. As a result of the above, the rear end of themachine is lowered thereby levelling the stones 14 and frame 10, for theframe 10 is fulcrumed about the stone spider shaft line 43. As a furtherresult of the lowering of the rear end of the machine the mercury in thereservoir 77 in the cylinder 78 will drop away from the contact points81 thereby breaking the circuit and the light 86 goes out. In reversingthe direction of the hand wheel 37, the piston 34 rises and the ram 56also rises Within the cylinder thereby allowing the bolt to lower, andthe pressure of springs 17' and 17" lift the frame for stone levellingin a new position when new stones are inserted.

As a modification of the electrical conductor fiuid system and itsvisual warning indicator as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, I provide a switchbox having a base 94 that is rigidly attached to the upper surface ofthe motor housing 12. Said switch box is provided with a detachablecover member 95 having formed therein a light aperture 96 and a warninglight bulb 97 is mounted on said cover member 95 in a light socket 98 inregister with the aperture 96. Said socket is grounded to the cover 95by a bolt 99. Mounted in the base 94 at one end thereof, is aconventional, horizontally disposed mercury switch 100 that is hingedlymounted on the base 94 of the switch box and an adjusting screw 101 hasscrew threaded engagement with the other end portion of the mercuryswitch 100 for levelling adjustment after installation of new grindingstones 15. It will be understood that this modification isconventionally wired and fused.

While there are herein disclosed but a limited number of embodiments ofthe structure, process and product of the invention herein presented, itis possible to produce still other embodiments without departing fromthe inventive concept herein disclosed, and it is desired, therefore,that only such limitations be imposed on the appended claims as arestated herein, or required by the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In a floor surfacing machine having a frame, handle, and motor drivengrinding members, the improvement for maintaining the grinding membersin substantially level grinding position, said improvement comprising afirst enclosed chamber mounted on said frame, a second enclosed chambermounted on said frame and spaced from said first chamber, a conduitconnecting said first and second chambers and having a liquid electricalconductor therein at a predetermined level in said chambers, electricalindicating means, wire contacts extending into said second chamber andconnected to said indicating means and a source of electrical energywhereby a predetermined change in the attitude of said frame due to Wearon said grinding members causes said liquid to rise in said secondchamber and contact said wire contacts to complete a circuit andenergize said indicating means, means for levelling said frame wherebysaid liquid is removed from said wire contacts to deenergize saidelectrical indicating means.

2. In a floor surfacing machine, a frame, grinding members connected tosaid frame, means for rotating said grinding members, means connected tosaid frame ing the attitude of said frame to effect said indicatingmeans.

3. In a floor surfacing machine, a frame, grinding members connected tosaid frame, means for rotating said grinding members, a first enclosedchamber mounted on said frame and a second enclosed chamber mounted onsaid frame spaced from said first chamber, communicating meansconnecting said chambers, a conducting liquid in said chambers and saidcommunicating means at a predetermined level, electrical contact meansin said second chamber adapted to be contacted by said conducting liquidwhen said grinding members wear to a predetermined point, said contactmeans connected to light means mounted on the machine, means forenergizing said light means when contact is made between said contactmeans and said conducting liquid, and means for levelling said frame tolevel said grinding members and move said conducting liquid from contactwith said contact means to de-energize said light means.

4. In a floor surfacing machine, frame means, grinding members connectedto said frame means, means for rotating said grinding members, meansconnected to said frame means for containing and maintaining a level ofliquid electrical conductor responsive to changes in attitude of theframe means, light means mounted on the machine, contact means connectedto said light means and extending into said liquid conductor containermeans adapted to contact said liquid conductor at a predeterminedattitude of the frame means and energize said light means, and means forchanging the attitude of said frame means to move said liquid conductorout of contact with said contact means to deenergize said light means.

5. In a floor surfacing machine, frame means, grinding members connectedto said frame means, means for rotating said grinding members, means forcontaining a liquid conductor the level of the conductor responsive tothe attitude of said frame means, light means, contact means connectedto said light means and said containing means and adapted to becontacted by said liquid and energize said light means when the attitudeof said frame means is changed a predetermined amount, and means forchanging the attitude of the frame member to move said liquid conductorout of contact with said contact means to deenergize said light means.

6. In a floor surfacing machine, frame means, grinding members connectedto said frame means, means for rotating said grinding members, handlemeans connected to said frame means, a first cylinder mounted on saidhandle means, a piston mounted within said first cylinder, a secondcylinder mounted on said frame, a bolt secured at its upper end withinsaid second cylinder, a ram slidably mounted on said bolt and slidablewithin said second cylinder, the lower end of said ram fixedly mountedon said frame, a wheel carrying arm pivotally mounted on said frame,spring means urging said arm away from said frame, the lower end of saidbolt connected to said arm, conduit means connecting said first cylinderwith said second cylinder and leaving a liquid therein, and means formoving said piston downwardly in said first piston to cause said liquidto move said second cylinder upwardly upon said ram and thereby movesaid bolt upwardly to draw up said wheel carrying arm to relevel theframe means after wear on said grinding members, and visual means forindicating when said grinding members are worn a predetermined amount;

7. In a floor surfacing machine, a supporting frame,

grinding members connected to said frame, means for rotating saidgrinding member s, enclosed means having an electrical conducting liquidtherein, electrical indicating means connected to said frame, contactmeans extending into said enclosed means and connected to saidindicating means and a source of electrical energy, whereby apredetermined change in the attitude of said frame due to wear on saidgrinding members causes said liquid to contact said contact meanscompleting a circuit and energizing said indicating means.

8. In a floor surfacing machine having a frame, handle, and motor drivengrinding members, the improvement for maintaining the grinding membersin substantially level grinding position, said improvement comprising afirst enclosed chamber mounted on said frame, a second enclosed chambermounted on said frame and spaced from said first chamber, a conduitconnecting said first and second chambers and having a liquid electricalconductor therein at a predetermined level in said chambers, electricalindicating means, wire contacts extending into said second chamber andconnected to said indicating means and a source of electrical energywhereby a pre determined change in the attitude of said frame due towearon said grinding members causes said liquid to rise in said secondchamber and contact said wire contacts to complete a circuit andenergize said indicating means, a first cylinder mounted on the handlemeans, a piston mounted within said first cylinder, a second cylindermounted on said frame, a bolt secured at its upper end within saidsecond cylinder, a ram slidably mounted on said bolt and slidable withinsaid second cylinder, the lower end of said ram fixedly mounted on saidframe, a wheel carrying arm pivotally mounted on said frame, springmeans urging said arm away from said frame, the lower end of said boltconnected to said arm, conduit means connecting said first cylinder withsaid second cylinder and leaving a liquid therein, and means for movingsaid piston downwardly in said first piston to cause said liquid to movesaid second cylinder upwardly upon said ram and thereby move said boltupwardly to draw up said wheel carrying arm to relevel the frame afterwear on said grinding members whereby said liquid is removed from saidwire contacts to deenergize the electrical indicating means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

